The NSW Government has released the Sydney to Central West Corridors White Paper, which it says sets a realistic, evidence-based direction for transport and roads planning through the Blue Mountains and the Central West.
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison says the White Paper provides a practical assessment of transport opportunities for the region which prioritises safety, resilience and reliability – including road upgrades, safer speed settings, resilience uplift, improvements to rail services, freight efficiency and investment in active transport.
“This White Paper is about honesty and vision – telling people what can be done. That means safer roads, better resilience during fires and floods, and practical improvements that stand up to scrutiny,” said the Minister.
“The Minns Labor Government is focused on doing things properly. This is responsible government in action. Sequencing matters if we want results, not cancellations.”
The White Paper also establishes a practical framework for improving nationally significant routes as well as local streets, village centres and rail lines. It reinforces that the Blue Mountains and the Central West are not a single, uniform corridor, and that local communities should be planned for, not treated as thoroughfares, said Minister Aitchison.
She said the White Paper will serve as the foundation for future infrastructure proposals, supporting business cases for funding across all levels of government, and providing a platform for collaboration between Transport for NSW, local councils, and State and Federal agencies.
“The initiatives outlined represent a clear pipeline of potential actions to address known challenges and opportunities. Any future investment will be subject to prioritisation and approval processes,” said Ms Aitchison.
“For communities in the Central West and Blue Mountains, reliable connections are not a nice-to-have – they are essential to daily life, safety, and economic opportunity, and the Minns Government has a blueprint to deliver,” said Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Western NSW, Tara Moriarty.
The Sydney to Central West Corridors White Paper can be found here.
